Composing-stick.



B. MGGINTY. comrosme STICK.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17, 1913. 1,1 07,539. Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

\ WI TIIESSES THE NORRIS PETERS cu, PHOTO LITHO., WA 'HINOION. u. C.

BERNARD MGGINTY, OF DOYLESTO'WN, PENNSYLVANIA.

GOMPOSING-STICK.

Application filed April 17, 1913.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au .18, 1914-.

Serial No. 761,776.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, BERNARD MoGIN'rY, citizen of the United States, residing at Doylestown, in the county of Bucks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Composing- Sticks, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to composing sticks; and it contemplates the provision of a simple and inexpensive composing stick in which the knee is securely anchored to the body at the top as well as at the bottom to guarl against casual movement or springing of the knee, and this in such manner that the anchoring points are visible to the compositor, enabling him to see that the knee is correctly set.

Other advantageous characteristics of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claim when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forn'iing part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan of a Composing stick constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken in the plane indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. at is a detail horizontal section, taken in the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, with some of the parts in plan. Fig. 5 is an elevation of one of the brasses hereinafter specifically referred to.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawing.

In furtherance of my invention the side wall 1 of the body 2 of the stick is provided with a longitudinal series of transverse apertures 53, and the end wall l of said body is provided with one or a plurality of apertures 5, two apertures 5 being employed by preference, as illustrated. Also in furtherance of my invention the body 2 is provided in its upper edge 1l. 0., its edge remote from the wall 1, with a longitudinal series of notches 6.

Movable longitudinally of the body 2 is a knee 7, of right-angle form in plan, and pivoted at S on the longitudinally disposed portion of said knee is a frictional clamp 9 which is of channel form in cross-section to straddle the said portion of the knee and the wall 1, and is provided with a rear finger piece 10. Carried by andextending laterally from the longitudinally disposed portion of the knee 7 is a dowel pin 11, Figs. 2 and l, designed .to be seated in any one of the apertures 3, as occasion demands. The said dowel pin 1.1. can be embedded in the longitudinal portion of the knee as shown in Fig. l: or can be extended entirely through the said portion of the knee as shown in F l and 2, in the discretion of the party practising my invention. It will also be 1 and 2 that the of the knee 7 is providcd at its outer end with a depending lu 12 which is designed to be seated in any one of the notches 6 in the body 2.

lVith the knee arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 on and in engagement with the body and the frictional. fastener clamp positioned as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, it will. be manifest that the knee is anchored or locked at the top well as at the bottom, and hence slipping or springing of the knee is positively precluded and absolute accuracy in the length of every line of type set is assured. It will also be observed that the anchoring or locking points are visible to the compositor so that he can readily see that the knee is correctly set.

The notches 6 in the upper edge of the body 2 are advantageous because they enable the compositor to see the upper anchoring or looking points and also because the lugs 12 can be seated transversely of the composing stick in one of the said notches synchronously with the placing of the dowel pin 11 in one of the transverse apertures 3 of the body. It will further be observed that the knee and the frictional clamp can be quickly and easily manipulated to lock and unlock the knee, and that the frictional clamp serves efficiently in holding the knee in direct and positive engagement with the body. It is eminently desirable for a composing stick to be graduated to pica and half pica (nonpareil or six-point) measures with half point for squeeze and also for exact pica measures, to take in foundry-cut rules, slugs and leads without any allowance for squeeze. The latter object I attain by means of a 12%} point spacer 13, disposed against the end wall 4 and held in place by two dowel pins 14 disposed in the apertures in said end wall. The half pica measure attained by the use of a six point spacer, similar to the spacer 13 in combination with one point and seen by reference to transverse portion 7 two point brasses 15 worked between the spacer and the end wall 4; the said brasses being provided with notches 16 to enable the same to straddle the portions of the dowel pins 14 intermediate the spacer and the end Wall 4. My novel stick can also be used to set any standard or bastard measure.

It will be gathered from the foregoing that my novel composing stick is simple and inexpensive in construction, is susceptible of adjustment without material effort, and is-eiiicient' for all kinds of work in the composing room and is well adapted to with stand the usage to which composing sticks are ordinarily subjected.

When it is desired to change the position of the knee 7 it is simply necessary to raise the free end of the fastener or clamp 9, when the knee can be readily moved laterally away from the wall 1 to remove its pin 11 and lug 12 from an aperture 3 and a notch 6, respectively, of the body.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

In a composing stick, With .a body'having a side the combination wall and an end wall and also having a longitudinal series of transverse apertures in the side wall and a Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by Waehington, D. 0.

able von the body and having longitudinal series of notches in its edge remote from said side wall, said notches being open at their outer ends, of a knee adjusta longitudinally disposed portion to rest against the side wall of the body and provided with a pin adapted to take into any one of the apertures in said side wall and also having a transverse portion provided with a lug arranged to slip edgewise into any one of the longitudinal series of notches in the body, and a frictional clamp for detachably holding the knee against said side wall of the body and for detachably retaining the pin and lug of the knee against casual displacement from an aperture and a notch respectively of the body; said clamp being tudinally disposed portion of the knee and having a channel portion to straddle and frictionally-engage said knee portion and the side wall of the body and also having a finger piece.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BERNARD MoGIN TY. Witnesses:

FRANK J. RICH, FREDERICK J. SoHRoTH.

addreuing the Commissioner of Iatents,

pivoted to the longi 

